Declaration arrangements for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National – details of elimination sequence, reserves & raising of weights

 

Thursday, March 28, 2019 – The 172nd staging of the world’s greatest and most valuable chase, the £1-million Randox Health Grand National at Aintree, is now just nine days’ away with the much-anticipated race due off at 5.15pm on Saturday, April 6.

 

The maximum field for the Randox Health Grand National is 40 runners.

 

In order to have 40 runners or near enough, a system of reserves was brought in ahead of the 2000 running.

 

Below can be found the details of eliminations, reserves and raising of the weights for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National.

 

The next stage for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National is the five-day confirmation stage at noon on Monday, April 1.

 

Eliminations

 

If elimination is necessary at the final 48-hour declaration stage on Thursday, April 4 (i.e. there are more than 40 horses declared to run) the balloting of horses set to carry the same weight at the bottom of the handicap will be decided upon by using the horses’ current handicap mark at the time of elimination.

 

The latest order of elimination, based on current BHA ratings, can be found below.

 

In the event of two or more horses on the same weight having an identical current handicap rating, their elimination sequence will be determined by random ballot.

 

Reserves

 

The Randox Health Grand National is restricted to 40 runners plus four reserves. The four reserves are nominated as R1, R2, R3 and R4.

 

Reserves can be utilised if any horse from the 40 runners is declared a non-runner by 1.00pm on Friday April 5.

 

The trainers of horses in the list of five-day acceptors who are not among the 40 highest-weighted horses at the 48-hour declaration stage must indicate at that time whether they are prepared to be a reserve.

 

In the event that the number of declared runners exceeds 40, up to four reserves will be selected.

 

These horses will be the four horses with the highest handicap rating among those who are subject to elimination from the race after the 48-hour declaration stage and who indicate that they are prepared to stand as reserves. If the trainer does not make any indication and cannot be contacted, the horse will not stand as a reserve.

 

When the list of declarations is released, the reserves will not be allocated a saddlecloth number, but will be listed as R1, R2, R3 and R4. They will take sequentially the number of any horse who becomes a non-runner, with reserves who gain a run placed at the bottom of the racecard in the correct weight order.

 

Non-runners declared by 1.00pm on Friday, April 5, 2019, will be replaced by reserves. This means that 1.00pm on Friday April 5, 2019 will be the latest time when reserves can be added to the runners’ list and secure a place in the field for the 2019 Randox Health Grand National.

 

Raising of weights at the 24-hour stage

 

Weights may be raised at 1.00pm on Friday April 5, 2019 in the same manner as at the 48-hour declaration stage if there are any relevant non-runners (i.e the top-weighted horse or horses).

 

Weights will not be raised if all final declared runners are already in the weights at the 1.00pm deadline on Friday, April 5.

 

If this is not the case and the weights are raised at this time, revised declaration of riders will be accepted for all declared runners up to 1.30 p.m. on the same day.

 

The weights as listed below are currently set to rise by 4lb, with original top-weight Bristol De Mai having been scratched on March 27.

 

Best-Shod Horse

 

The Worshipful Company of Farriers will present a memento to the owner and farrier of the best shod horse in each of the three races staged over the Grand National fences during the Randox Health Grand National Festival –the Randox Health Foxhunters’ Chase, the Randox Health Topham Chase and the Randox Health Topham Chase.

 

The judging will take place during the pre-race veterinary inspection.

 

Successful farriers and owners both get a memento.

 

The winning owner of the best shod in the Randox Health Grand National also receives the Le Reve Trophy.

 

 

Randox Health Grand National

Grade 3 handicap chase, £1 million total prize fund. Aintree, 5.15pm Saturday, April 6, 2019. 4m 2f 74y over the Grand National fences. For seven-year-olds and upwards who, prior to March 19 have started in a steeple chase during the current season and been placed first, second, third or fourth in a chase with an official distance description of two miles seven and a half furlongs' or more at any time during the horse's career, Horses must also be allotted a rating of 125 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including February 10. Horses who are not qualified for a rating in Great Britain or Ireland at closing may also be entered. Such horses may be eligible for a weight providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including February 10 would merit a minimum rating of 125. To qualify, horses must have run at least three times in chases run under the Rules of Racing of the same Recognised Racing Authority up to and including February 10. At the Handicapper's discretion, such horses may be allocated a rating. The decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final. Entries closes January 29, entries revealed January 30 (112 entries - 2 not qualified), weights revealed February 12, first scratchings deadline February 26 (100 remained), second scratchings deadline March 19 (84 remained – 3 not-qualified, 2 subsequently scratched), five-day confirmations April 1, final declarations 10am April 4. Maximum field of 40 plus four reserves.

 

Weights to be raised by at least 4lb on Monday, April 1, 2019

 

	Horse	Age	Wgt	Rtg	Owner	Trainer
1)	ANIBALE FLY (FR)	9	11-06	164	J P McManus	Tony Martin IRE
2)	ALPHA DES OBEAUX (FR)	9	11-04	162	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
3)	THE STORYTELLER (IRE)	8	11-03	161	Pat Sloan	Gordon Elliott IRE
4)	VALTOR (FR)	10	11-02	160	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Nicky Henderson
5)	TIGER ROLL (IRE)	9	11-01	159	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
6)	OUTLANDER (IRE)	11	11-00	158	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
7)	DON POLI (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
8)	SUB LIEUTENANT (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
9)	GO CONQUER (IRE)	10	10-13	157	Paul & Clare Rooney	Nigel Twiston-Davies
10)	MALA BEACH (IRE)	11	10-12	156	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
11)	YALA ENKI (FR)	9	10-12	156	Hills of Ledbury (Aga)	Venetia Williams
12)	BLAKLION	10	10-12	156	Darren & Annaley Yates	Philip Kirby
13)	MINELLA ROCCO (IRE)	9	10-11	155	J P McManus	Jonjo O'Neill
14)	LAKE VIEW LAD (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Trevor Hemmings	Nick Alexander
15)	PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE)	11	10-11	155	Malcolm Denmark	Willie Mullins IRE
16)	BALLYOPTIC (IRE)	9	10-11	155	Mills & Mason Partnership	Nigel Twiston-Davies
17)	DOUNIKOS (FR)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
18)	RATHVINDEN (IRE)	11	10-10	154	Ronnie Bartlett	Willie Mullins IRE
19)	ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE)	10	10-10	154	Two Golf Widows	Lucinda Russell
20)	SHATTERED LOVE (IRE)	8	10-10	154	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
21)	ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE)	9	10-09	153	Diana Whateley	Philip Hobbs
22)	WARRIORS TALE	10	10-09	153	Trevor Hemmings	Paul Nicholls
23)	REGAL ENCORE (IRE)	11	10-08	152	J P McManus	Anthony Honeyball
24)	MAGIC OF LIGHT (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Ann & Alan Potts Limited	Jessica Harrington IRE
25)	A TOI PHIL (FR)	9	10-07	151	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
26)	JURY DUTY (IRE)	8	10-07	151	Sideways Syndicate	Gordon Elliott IRE
27)	NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Chris Jones	Gordon Elliott IRE
28)	SANDYMOUNT DUKE (IRE)	10	10-06	150	Ronnie Wood	Jessica Harrington IRE
29)	MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE)	8	10-06	150	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
30)	RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR)	7	10-05	149	John White & Anne Underhill	David Pipe
31)	TEA FOR TWO	10	10-05	149	Jane Williams & Len Jakeman	Jane Williams
32)	MALL DINI (IRE)	9	10-04	148	Philip Reynolds	Patrick Kelly IRE
33)	STEP BACK (IRE)	9	10-03	147	Cracker and Smodge Partnership	Mark Bradstock
34)	ULTRAGOLD (FR)	11	10-03	147	Brocade Racing John Romans Terry Warner	Colin Tizzard
35)	MS PARFOIS (IRE)	8	10-02	146	Martyn Chapman	Anthony Honeyball
36)	PAIROFBROWNEYES (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Fibbage Syndicate	Willie Mullins IRE
37)	BLOW BY BLOW (IRE)	8	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
38)	UP FOR REVIEW (IRE)	10	10-02	146	Andrea & Graham Wylie	Willie Mullins IRE
39)	SINGLEFARMPAYMENT	9	10-02	146	Neal Griffith & Heather Haddock	Tom George
40)	VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR)	10	10-02	146	Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent	David Pipe
41)	VALSEUR LIDO (FR)	10	10-02	146	Gigginstown House Stud	Henry de Bromhead IRE
42)	ABOLITIONIST (IRE)	11	10-01	145	Mark Albon, John Provan & Chris Stedman	Dr Richard Newland
43)	VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Trevor Hemmings	Sue Smith
44)	GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE)	10	10-00	144	Gigginstown House Stud	Gordon Elliott IRE
45)	LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE)	9	10-00	144	Susannah Ricci	Willie Mullins IRE
46)	WALK IN THE MILL (FR)	9	10-00	144	Baroness Harding	Robert Walford
47)	FOLSOM BLUE (IRE)	12	10-00	144	Core Partnership	Gordon Elliott IRE
48)	BLESS THE WINGS (IRE)	14	9-13	143	Adrian Butler & Stephen O'Connor	Gordon Elliott IRE
49)	CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE)	10	9-13	143	Stuart Coltherd	Stuart Coltherd
50)	POLIDAM (FR)	10	9-13	143	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Willie Mullins IRE
51)	JOE FARRELL (IRE)	10	9-12	142	Mark Sherwood, Nigel Morris & Rebecca Curtis	Rebecca Curtis
52)	JUST A PAR (IRE)	12	9-12	142	Mark Scott	James Moffatt
53)	THE YOUNG MASTER	10	9-12	142	Mike Burbidge & The Old Masters	Neil Mulholland
54)	BAIE DES ILES (FR)	8	9-12	142	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
55)	ISLEOFHOPENDREAMS	12	9-12	142	Kilbroney Racing	Willie Mullins IRE
56)	EXITAS (IRE)	11	9-12	142	Phil Middleton, Mark Lowther	Phil Middleton
57)	RED INFANTRY (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Rob Little	Ian Williams
58)	SHANTOU VILLAGE (IRE)	9	9-12	142	Jane Gerard-Pearse	Neil Mulholland
59)	COGRY	10	9-10	140	Graham and Alison Jelley	Nigel Twiston-Davies
60)	OUT SAM	10	9-10	140	Danny Charlesworth	Gordon Elliott IRE
61)	FACT OF THE MATTER (IRE)	9	9-10	140	The Sandylini Racing Partnership	Jamie Snowden
62)	VIEUX MORVAN (FR)	10	9-10	140	M L Bloodstock Limited	Joseph O'Brien IRE
63)	MR DIABLO (IRE)	10	9-09	139	Aidan Glynn	Philip Dempsey IRE
64)	IMPULSIVE STAR (IRE)	9	9-09	139	Robert Waley-Cohen & Men Holding	Neil Mulholland
65)	KINGSWELL THEATRE	10	9-09	139	John J Murray	Michael Scudamore
66)	CAROLE'S DESTRIER	11	9-08	138	Carole Skipworth	Neil Mulholland
67)	MILANSBAR (IRE)	12	9-08	138	Robert Bothway	Neil King
68)	BORICE (FR)	8	9-07	137	Simon Munir & Isaac Souede	Gordon Elliott IRE
69)	MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE)	11	9-07	137	Tom Howley Jnr/Mouse O'Ryan/Dave McDonnell	Gordon Elliott IRE
70)	SPLASH OF GINGE	11	9-07	137	John Neild	Nigel Twiston-Davies
71)	ZIGA BOY (FR)	10	9-07	137	Axom LI	Alan King
72)	HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE)	13	9-05	135	Cheveley Park Stud	James Moffatt
73)	CALL IT MAGIC (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Zorka Wentworth	Ross O'Sullivan IRE
74)	KILCREA VALE (IRE)	9	9-05	135	Alan Spence	Nicky Henderson
75)	LOOKING WELL (IRE)	10	9-03	133	David Wesley Yates	Nicky Richards
76)	POTTERS CORNER (IRE)	9	9-02	132	All Stars Sports Racing & Jonathan Davies	Christian Williams
77)	MORNEY WING (IRE)	10	8-13	129	The Steeple Chasers	Charlie Mann
78)	RATHLIN ROSE (IRE)	11	8-12	128	Fergus Wilson	David Pipe
79)	SCOIR MEAR (IRE)	9	8-11	127	J P McManus	Thomas Mullins IRE

 

84 entries remained after the March 19 scratchings’ deadline – 3 not qualified, 2 subsequently scratched

37 Irish-trained

 

THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: BRISTOL DE MAI (FR), DAKLONDIKE (IRE)

 

About Aintree Racecourse / The Jockey Club

Aintree is home to The Randox Health Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world which is the climax to a three-day Festival meeting in April every year. The racecourse hosts five other fixtures and is a leading conference centre in the north west of England.

 

More information is available at aintree.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Aintree is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Cheltenham Festival and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences we offer through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny we make goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. We were founded in 1750 and today we are the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and our charity, Racing Welfare.

 

For more information visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

For further information please contact:

 

Grant Rowley, Regional Communications Manager, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07884 655990 or email:  Grant.Rowley@thejockeyclub.co.uk

 

Jessica Dalgliesh, Senior Communications Executive, The Jockey Club (North West) on 07464 491507 or email:  Jessica.Dalgliesh@thejockeyclub.co.uk